Something Extra seeks third Connaught Cup win
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Something Extra was only a half-length away from winning his third straight Grade 2 Connaught Cup last year, and the speedy 7-year-old is entered to take another run at the seven-furlong turf stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.
Something Extra, co-owned by John Menary and trainer Gail Cox, captured the Connaught Cup in 2012 and 2013. Last year, he finished second to Excaper after setting a lively pace.
Something Extra notched the Grade 3 Shakertown in his season opener at Keeneland. Most recently at Churchill, he cut back to five furlongs and wound up third after dueling through suicidal splits in the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint.
“He’s doing so well,” Cox said. “He’s as good as ever.”
The $200,000 Connaught Cup drew nine others and will be run as race 8 on a nine-race program.
KEY CONTENDERS
Something Extra (Last 3 Beyers: 96-101-89)
◗ Cox also is looking at next Saturday’s Grade 3 Jaipur Invitational, a $300,000 stakes on Belmont Stakes Day.
“He was invited to the Jaipur,” Cox said. “It’s three-quarters, which is definitely up his alley. I’ll take a look at the field here and the weather and make an educated decision.”
Excaper (Last 3 Beyers: 84-92-93)
◗ Will the pace scenario be a carbon copy of last year’s running, in which Excaper tracked Something Extra on the outside before wearing him down in the final furlong? He hasn’t found the mark since then but was second in the Grade 2 King Edward. He was a bit player in Grade 3 stakes company at Gulfstream during the winter.
Dimension (Last 3 Beyers: 92-85-86)
◗ His lone victory over this course came in the Grade 2 Play the King in 2013, in which he finished third last year. The 7-year-old was a wide fifth most recently in the Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont.
Lockout (Last 3 Beyers: 96-80-89)
◗ The deep closer has been idle since a Nov. 16 allowance score at Churchill, but he can acquit himself just fine while fresh. Trainer Mark Casse and jockey Gary Boulanger combined to take last Saturday’s Grade 2 Nassau with the stretch runner Sky Treasure.
Conquest Top Gun (Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-90)
◗ The other Casse starter came up empty in his only grass race early in his career. He prevailed in a recent optional claimer on the Polytrack in his second start off an extended layoff.
Phil’s Dream (Last 3 Beyers: 86-73-75)
◗ Canada’s champion sprinter in 2013 is a stakes-caliber runner on turf and Polytrack, but is he past his prime at age 7?